It sure would be nice to just slop some joint compound (also known as mud) into the seam and call it a day. Unfortunately, you cannot do this, because the two sheets will eventually loosen and move just enough to start developing hairline cracks in the joints. Then, slowly the joints will start to crumble.
Drywall tape reinforces joints and lets the mud do its work.
Join us in our drywall tape overview as we look at several basic types of drywall joint tape: paper, fiberglass, metal-backed, and even some other types.
